I have definitely found a difference since I consume a good deal of probiotic foods and supplements. My stomach feels much better, I have lots more energy and my health in general seems better.
Michele Simon was a speaker in the 2012 Food Revolution Summit. Recently she released a report, produced in tandem with Friends Of the Earth, to bring attention to the dire situation of declining bee populations caused by pesticides. You can find the report here, and read a summary below. If you like to eat, then you should care about what’s happening to bees. Did you know that two-thirds of our food crops require pollination – the very foods that we rely on for healthy eating – such as apples, berries, and almonds, just to name a few. That’s why the serious declines in bee populations are getting more attention, with entire campaigns devoted to saving bees. A strong and growing body of evidence points to exposure to a class of neurotoxic pesticides called neonicotinoids—the fastest-growing and most widely used class of synthetic pesticides—as a key contributing factor to bee declines. The European Union banned the three most widely used
After a hugely successful video marketing campaign, Chipotle has come up with a four episode, scripted comedy, "Farmed and Dangerous" a Hulu video series.
I love my Back to Basics projects. They are great fun, creative and inspiring. They are also for practicing self-sufficiency, sustainability and future survival.
I have observed the disintegration of the middle-class including:
(each bulleted item has source material linked to it) • the actual unemployment rate of over 20%
In addition, we have been personally experiencing first-hand the descent into challenging times over the last six years. I consider us, and many people like us, part of The Poor Middle Class, as I call it. I do not see a return to the kind of middle class life that our parents enjoyed after WWII. I do not see a return to conspicuous consumption that many of us got away with before 2008. The lines have been drawn. There are the ‘material haves’ and the ‘material have-nots. We have-nots have the opportunity to see things and live life in a very different way. We also do not have to go it alone.
Change can cause panic and fear. It can also be inspirational. We are personally choosing inspiration, with creative solutions and community support. That is what Back to Basics is all about for anyone who wants to live a sustainable life. It involves becoming self-sufficient for future survival and having fun learning how to make the transition. It has given me a new purpose in life, my Ikigai, as one of my Back to Basics articles describes.
Question from Lynda A Moran, “So is there a recipe that you are wiling to share?”
Answer from Alison D. Gilbert,
“Of course, that is the whole idea of Back to Basics, to share, to educate, to inspire others.
These are the basic ingredients:
• bar of soap – Fels Naptha or Zote soap
• 20 Mule Team Borax
• Arm & Hammer Washing soda
• the fourth is essential oil for scent and optional because is smells great just with the three above ingredients
Lynda A Moran asked, “What do you do with the bar soap? Cut it up? Alison D. Gilbert answered, “Grate it and then melt it by adding to hot water on a medium light on the stove. The easiest way to learn is to read a recipe or watch one of the many videos like the samples below. Some use slightly different recipes and ingredients but all are basically the same.”
The above images from the facebook conversation. Below is the recipe from Mrs. Happy Homemaker for Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent. She said, “Buying laundry detergent can put a dent in any budget. Let me walk you through and show you how . . .” Here is her recipe in writing.
Below are several instructional videos. There are many, many more on YouTube. These are just a few of the one’s I have found helpful. Each one is slightly different. As you can see, making the detergent does have some science to it. But it is not rocket science. So you can improvise her and there without any problem. Good luck and enjoy your abundance of affordable homemade liquid laundry detergent.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE LIQUID LAUNDRY DETERGENT PT. 1
In this video, I show you how to make homemade laundry detergent. This detergent…See More
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE LIQUID LAUNDRY DETERGENT PART 2
This is part two of how to make homemade liquid laundry detergent. The detergent…See More
How to Make Liquid Laundry Detergent
This laundry detergent brightens colors, whitens whites. Nice Lemon Scent. Give …See More
How to make the BEST DIY Zote Laundry Detergent Soap Ever
Pet hair here, pet hair there, pet hair everywhere! Yep, if there’s anything pet parents have plenty of, it’s pet hair, so why not put some if it to good use?
Alison D. Gilbert‘s insight:
This is actually a great article with excellent suggestions. Will we be in time to implement ideas like this before we totally clog up the planet?